Cairn Gorm access debate hots up

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Helen Webster

As the temperatures soar and more people take to the hills, Ramblers Scotland has called for a full debate of Cairn Gorm access arrangements. Earlier this week it was announced that the Cairngorms funicular railway is to be opened up for guided walks to the summit of Cairn Gorm. Access from the top of the controversial railway was one of the biggest concerns of conservationists when the railway was originally granted planning permission. Due to the extremely fragile and rare habitat on the plateau general walking access from the railway is not allowed as a condition of the management plan.…

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Can’t stand the heat? New ice climb course

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is offering a great opportunity for members to learn how to climb ice safely and efficiently on a training course in Norway. The course is subsidized by £200 per person from the Mountain Safety budget and is aimed at those who have summer and winter hill walking experience and some summer rock climbing skills. There are only 10 places, open to MCofS members only and priority will be given to those who demonstrate some commitment to passing on their new found skills to other club members. The ice climbing 5 day training course will…

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Work starts on Trump's golf course

Posted on July 1, 2010 by Helen Webster

Work will start on Donald Trump’s controversial Aberdeenshire golf course today. Last Tuesday Councillors gave the go-ahead to one stage of the planned £1 billion resort and work is expected to begin on the golf course and associated developments such as a driving range, today. The golf course and plans for a hotel and hundreds of houses within a gated community will be built partly on land designated as a SSSI at Menie, just north of Aberdeen. The plans already have outline planning permission following a public inquiry, but Councillors are due to make the final decision on the rest…

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Hillphones service resumes

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Hillphones service detailing access arrangements for deer stalking starts operating for the season again from 1 July. The Hillphones service provides information to enable hillwalkers and climbers to find out where red deer stalking is taking place over the stag stalking season, between the 1st July and the 20th October, on certain estates. Click here to visit the Hillphones website and find the list of areas and telephone numbers. The current system, which involves phoning a number for each of the 12 areas that take part in the scheme and listening to a recorded message, is due to be…

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MCofS Annual Meet date announced

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Mountaineeering Council of Scotland (MCofS) will hold its Annual Meet on 4 September this year. The day of activities to be followed by a social evening and meal, will also include the AGM and will be held at Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore. Throughout the day, MCofS members will be enjoy dry-tooling, rock climbing or a “how to train” hill running session. More relaxed alternatives include GPS training; a visit to the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team Base; a half-day tour of the Cairngorm plateau and corries; a minimal impact mountaineering workshop; and a chance to learn how search and rescue…

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More Sea Eagles arrive for east Scotland

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Helen Webster

Another batch of sea eagle chicks have just been flown in to Edinburgh as part of a reintroduction project for the east of Scotland. The 19 white tailed eagle chicks were welcomed at Edinburgh Airport by Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham. The five-week old chicks will stay at a secret location in Fife until they have developed their flight feathers. The RSPB is running the project and has previously introduced sea eagles successfully in the area, following a much longer and successful project on the west coast which began in the 1970s. Ms Cunningham said, “The white tailed sea eagle was…

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Walker dies on Ben Nevis

Posted on June 27, 2010 by Helen Webster

A man collapsed and died whilst on a walking trip to Ben Nevis yesterday morning (26 June). Fort William police were notified about an incident on the mountain at around half past eight on Saturday morning and members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team attended. Assisted by a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Kinloss the body was recovered from the mountain. The police say that enquiries are ongoing to inform all next of kin and details of the deceased will not be released until this has been done. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, Fort William in…

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Petitions launched to protect wild land

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Helen Webster

The John Muir Trust (JMT) has launched two petitions to urge the UK and Scottish governments to give greater protection to the country’s last remaining wild land. The petition in Scotland calls for wild land to be protected by a new environmental designation. The petition for the UK calls for National Park areas to be expanded and created to cover the best areas of wild land. Helen McDade, head of policy at the JMT, said: “We aim to use these petitions to send a clear signal to the government that many thousands of people care passionately about wild land and…

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Banana skins top offender in Nevis clean up

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Helen Webster

During the first litter pick of the year, the most common item found on Ben Nevis was the humble banana skin. Conservationists have previously estimated that there are over 1000 banana skins on the summit of Ben Bevis. Volunteers filled bags with these black shrivelled objects, which can often take well over 2 years to break down, as well as plastic bottles, food wrappers, and discarded clothing. Despite there still being 4 foot of snow on the summit, eight volunteers from the John Muir Trust (JMT) took part in the clean up on 30 May. The volunteers managed to collect…

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Lottery money for Scottish paths announced

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Helen Webster

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced funding of £720,000 to repair 94kms of eroded mountain paths in the Cairngorms as well as support to complete the route around Loch Leven and to develop heritage trails in Castle Semple Country Park, Renfewshire. The Cairngorm National Park attracts 1.4 million visitors a year with many of them taking to the paths and mountains where the habitat is particularly fragile. This continuous wear alongside the harsh climate conditions has caused erosion resulting in unsightly scars to the landscape and considerable damage to the important habitats. This four year project will improve 17…

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